Magnetic boot attachment for a stirrup

ABSTRACT

A riding boot attachment for use with a riding boot includes a body member having a first surface, a second surface, and at least two openings for receiving the riding boot. The body member receives at least a portion of the riding boot and is shaped and configured to conform to a contour of the riding boot. The riding boot attachment also includes a sole for engaging a stirrup, the sole coupled to the first surface of the body member, and a magnetic member coupled to the sole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/403,638, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed on Mar. 13, 2009 by Paul H. Yanke and Charles H. Yanke, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/036,819, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed Mar. 14, 2008 by Scott H. Yanke, Patricia A. Van Housen and Paul H. Yanke, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/052,773, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed May 13, 2008 by Scott H. Yanke, Patricia A. Van Housen and Paul H. Yanke, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a boot attachment for a riding boot, and more particularly, to a magnetic riding boot attachment that magnetically attracts a stirrup.

Typically, stirrups attach to a saddle by straps. In equestrian events and activities, a rider's feet are placed into the stirrups, thereby allowing the rider to maintain their balance on an equine (e.g., a horse). It is common for a rider's foot to fall out of the stirrup, often called “losing their stirrup” or “blowing their stirrup.” If order to prevent this action, a rider's foot is held in the stirrup by a variety of make-shift restraints, such as rubber bands, strings, leather, or fabric ties. Such restraints usually require assistance to put on, are unsightly in competitive arenas, and are outlawed by the governing bodies of various equestrian sports.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a riding boot attachment for use with a riding boot. The riding boot attachment includes a body member having a first surface, a second surface, and at least two openings for receiving the riding boot. The body member receives at least a portion of the riding boot and is shaped and configured to conform to a contour of the riding boot. The riding boot attachment also includes a sole for engaging a stirrup, the sole coupled to the first surface of the body member, and a magnetic member coupled to the sole.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic stirrup and a riding boot according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a riding boot attachment for use with the stirrup and riding boot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is bottom view of the riding boot attachment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the riding boot attachment of FIG. 2 on the riding boot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the riding boot attachment and riding boot of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the riding boot attachment and riding boot of FIG. 4.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a stirrup 10 and a riding boot 14 for use with one embodiment of the invention. The stirrup 10 and the riding boot 14 form a riding system for use with various riding animals. As shown in FIG. 1, the stirrup 10 includes a base 18, an eye 22 for a strap to connect the stirrup to a saddle, such as a leather strap, and two branches 26 extending between the base 18 and the eye 22. The stirrup 10 may be formed of various materials, such as steel, stainless steel, iron, plated nickel, plastic, aluminum, wood, leather, and composites. Furthermore, the stirrup 10 may be formed of any metal as is known in the art. The magnetic stirrup 10 may be either English-style, as shown, or Western-style.

In the illustrated embodiment, a tread or foot pad 30 is removably coupled to the base 18 using fasteners (e.g., screws) inserted through apertures in the base 18. In a further embodiment, the foot pad 30 may be permanently attached to the base 18. The foot pad 30 may include ribs or another textured surface to provide friction between the foot pad 30 and riding boot 14 (or riding boot attachment 50 as discussed below). The foot pad 30 may be formed of various materials, such as metal (e.g., steel), plastic, rubber, urethane, silicon or leather. In some embodiments, the foot pad is molded using injection molding (i.e., high or low pressure injection molding), gravity molding, vacuum molding or any molding process. In still other embodiments, the stirrup 10 may not include a tread or foot pad 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a magnetic plate system 42, or first attractant or first magnetic member, which exhibits magnetic behavior, is coupled to or imbedded in a sole 48 of a riding boot attachment 50. The sole 48 is generally formed of rubber or other polymeric material. A second attractant or second magnetic member (not shown), which also exhibits magnetic behavior, is coupled to or imbedded in the foot pad 30. In other embodiments, the second magnetic member may be coupled to or imbedded in the base 18 of the stirrup 10.

In some embodiments, the style or discipline of equine riding determines the riding boot placement in the stirrup and therein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member placement in the riding boot attachment 50 and foot pad 30, respectively.

The riding boot attachment 50 includes a fabric sheath 54 having the sole 48 and a heel aperture 58. The fabric sheath 54 is configured to surround a portion of the riding boot 14 and a portion of a sole 46 of the riding boot 14, whereby the heel aperture 58 receives a heel 52 of the riding boot 14. The fabric sheath 54 includes a fabric loop 62 on a rear of the riding boot attachment 50 to enable a user to grasp, pull, push, or otherwise manipulate the riding boot attachment 50 to put it onto and take it off of the riding boot 14. In other embodiments, the fabric loop 62 may be any other type of element configured for grasping by a user. The fabric sheath 54 is manufactured of neoprene. However, in other embodiments, the fabric sheath 54 may be manufactured from spandex, nylon, or other stretch material. The stretch material is necessary to stretch the riding boot attachment 50 over the riding boot 14 to hold the magnetic plate system 42 against the sole 46 of the riding boot 14. In still other embodiments, the fabric sheath 54 may be manufactured from other types or combinations of fabric materials.

The riding boot attachment 50 also includes the sole 48 affixed to the bottom of the riding boot attachment 50 with adhesive. However, in other embodiments, the sole 48 may be affixed to the bottom of the riding boot attachment with a fastener, stitching, or other mechanical means. The riding boot attachment is shown as a slip-on article. However, in other embodiments, the riding boot attachment may include other adjustment features, including but not limited to a strap, a buckle, button, and/or shoelaces.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the sole 48 of the riding boot attachment 50 includes the magnetic plate system 42. The magnetic plate system 42 is shown as two plates; however, in other embodiments, the magnetic plate system may include one plate or more than two plates. As the number of plates increases, the magnetic attraction and flexibility of the sole may increase.

Each of the plates 42 is configured for receipt in a recess 66 formed in the sole 48, and affixed to the sole 48 with at least one fastener 70, such as a washer and rivet. However, in other embodiments, the plate 42 may be affixed with one or a combination of a fastener, such as a nail, other mechanical means, or adhesive. Once received in the recess 66, the magnetic plate 42 is flush with the bottom of the sole 48. In still other embodiments, ridges 74 of the sole may be filed or otherwise machined down to provide the recess for the magnetic plate. The ridges 74 are shown as having a uniform shape on the sole. However, in some embodiments, the ridges 74 may have other shapes, sizes, or combination of shapes and/or sizes. In still other embodiments, the sole 48 may be flat without any ridges 74. In such an embodiment, the flat sole would include recesses for receipt of the magnetic plate system, such that the magnetic plate system would be flush with the flat sole.

The magnetic plate system 42 may be formed of various conventional magnetic materials. For example, in some embodiments, the magnetic plate system 42 is formed of ferromagnetic materials, such as steel, carbon steel or iron, which produce magnetic fields that attract one another. In another embodiment, the magnetic plate system 42 is a composite loaded with metal. The magnetic plate system 42 is configured to magnetically attract and/or interact with the second magnetic member formed in the stirrup 10.

The type, size and shape of the second magnetic member utilized in the stirrup 10 determines the effectiveness or amount of magnetic attraction with the magnetic plate system 42. In some embodiments, the thickness and size of the magnetic plate system 42 may be varied to correspond to the type, size and shape of the second magnetic member in order to provide a desired amount of attraction between the magnetic members.

The magnetic field couples the stirrup 10 (i.e., the second magnetic member) to the sole 48 of the riding boot attachment 50 and thereby prevents a rider's foot from slipping through, or falling out of, the stirrup 10. If a rider does fall off the equine (e.g., horse, mule, etc.), the attraction of the first and second magnetic members is broken by the force of the rider's fall; therefore, allowing the rider's foot to fall out of the stirrup 10 rather than remaining entangled with the stirrup 10.

Although described for use with a riding boot, the riding boot attachment is contemplated for use in other applications where a magnetic attraction is desirable between two elements.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A riding boot attachment for use with a riding boot, the riding boot attachment comprising: a body member, the body member including a first surface, a second surface, and at least two openings for receiving the riding boot, wherein the body member receives at least a portion of the riding boot and is shaped and configured to conform to a contour of the riding boot; a sole for engaging a stirrup, the sole coupled to the first surface of the body member; and a magnetic member coupled to the sole.
 2. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein when the sole is positioned proximate the stirrup, the magnetic member is attracted to the stirrup to releasably secure the riding boot attachment to the stirrup.
 3. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the magnetic member comprises at least one plate.
 4. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the sole includes a recessed area and the magnetic member is positioned in the recessed area.
 5. The riding boot attachment of claim 4 wherein the recessed area is defined by an opening for supporting the magnetic member and the magnetic member is coupled to the sole with at least one fastener.
 6. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the sole includes a tread-like texture.
 7. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the sole is integrally formed with the first surface of the body member as a single piece.
 8. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the sole is formed of magnetic material.
 9. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein the body member is formed of a neoprene material.
 10. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein one of the apertures is formed in the first surface of the body member for receiving a heel of the riding boot.
 11. The riding boot attachment of claim 1 wherein one of the apertures is formed in the second surface of the body member for receiving an upper portion of the riding boot. 